Papua New Guinea’s Ministry for Immigration and Border Security has issued a statement outlining the country’s Refusal of Entry for Travellers from Asian Ports, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice.
All nationalities in Wuhan and Hubei Province will be refused entry to PNG until further notice. Anyone who has been in any part of China in the 14 days prior to the statement date of 30 January 2020 will be refused entry until they have been “medically cleared by a reputable clinic and hospital based on WHO standards.”
Air Niugini has also released a statement saying it is working closely with the National Government and stakeholders in the country, as well as those from the three entry points in Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila, to implement measures to mitigate the coronavirus risk.
As per the Government’s latest directive, Air Niugini will not uplift passengers who have been to Wuhan city or Hubei province during the last three weeks from any of the above three entry ports. However, there are no other restrictions on travel to PNG from any Asian port. Air Niugini does not operate direct flights to or from mainland China.
For passengers travelling out of Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila, or transiting through these airports, there are full quarantine screenings and checks being carried out by authorities at these respective airports to clear passengers. A similar set up has been put in place at the international terminal in Port Moresby by our Health and Quarantine authorities to monitor passengers from Asia and to collect the health declaration forms that are being provided.
